Sled



Oct. 11, 1932. w, E, MDDER 1,881,664

SLED

Filed June 23. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR Mir/1m 5'. fpidzr Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. KIDDER, 0F KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO KALAMAZOO SLED 7 COMPANY, OF KALA'MAZOO, MICHIGAN SLED Application filed June 23,

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved sled of the steering or coaster type in which the runners may be deflected or curved substantially throughout the length thereof thereby great- 1y increasing the steeringaction.

Second, to provide a steering or coaster sled in which the portion of the runners carrying the load are curved or deflected to secure the steering action which enables the sled to be effectively steered on hard surfaces such as ice.

Third, to provide a structure embodying these advantages which is very easily manipulated or steered.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of my invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved steering sled.

Fig. 2 is an inverted view with the runners in straight or normal position.

Fig. 3 is an inverted view with the runners deflected.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the runners 1 of T cross section are bent upwardly at their front ends and connected by across bar 2, the connection being by pivots 3.

The knees are provided with downward- I ly diverging legs 5 and are preferably sheet metal stampings. The knees have inwardly projecting bracket portions 6 forming seats for the benches 7. The raves 8 are mounted on the outer ends of the benches. The benches and knees are connected by the rivets 9 which also engage outer transverse slots 10 formed in the knees.

The knees also have inner transverse slots 1930. Serial No. 462,998.

11 which are engaged by the headed studs 12. This permits a'pivotal and sliding movement of the knees relative to the benches, the pivotal action alternating on the rivets and the studs and depending on the direction in which the runners are flexed, as Will be clear from an inspection of Fig. 3.

The links 13 are pivotally engaged with the rivets 9 connecting the front bench to the raves and to the front ends of the runners by the pivots 3.

The steering lever 14 is pivotally connected to the cross bar 2 at 15 and has a longitudinal slot 16 engaging the pivot 17 on the forward end of the centerboard 18 of the top. This top board is secured to the front and rear benches by means of the fastenings 19. The top boards 20 disposed at each'side of the board 18 are similarly fastened.

The steering bar 21 is fixedly secured to the starting lever so that when swung on its pivot the steering lever fulcrumming on the pivot 17 deflects the forward ends of the runners as illustrated, for example, in Fig. 3. A cross bar 22 is secured to the rates by the rivets 23.

With this arrangement of parts the runners may be flexed or curved substantially uniformly throughout their length, thus allowing that portion of them sustaining the load to curve and more effectively steer the sled. The runners are easily flexed and the sled turned in a shorter radius than is otherwise possible, owing to the greater curvature and the more effective engagement of the runners with the surface.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which I have found highly satisfactory. I have not attempted to illustrate and describe other embodiments or adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination of flexible runners, pairs of front and rear knees secured to said runners and each having longitudinally spaced inner and out-er transverse slots therein, benches arranged on said knees, raves disposed on the outer ends of said benches, said benches and raves being connected by 5 bolts arranged through and securing the outer slots of said knees, headed-studs on saidbenches engaging the inner slots of said knees, a top secured to said benches, a cross 7 bar connecting the front ends of said runners,

10 links pivotally connected to theend of said cross bar and to the front bench, and asteer- I ing lever pivotally mounted on said cross bar 7 we and having a pin and slot connection to the front end of said top.

pairsof front and rear'knees securedtofsaidi' spaced inner and outer transverse slots'therei in,benches arrangedon' said knees, raves disposedonthe outer endsof said benches, said benches and ravesbeing connected by bolts arranged through and engaging the outer slotsv ofsaid knees, headed studs :On said benches engaging .'the-:inner slots of said knees, a top secured to said benches, a cross bar connecting the front ends of said run- 11ers, and a steering lever pivotally connected I; tosaidtop-andcrossbar. 1 V 7 3.7 "Thecombinationrwith' ,a1top,.0-f flexible V runners, pairs iof knee'ssecuredto said runners and each having longitudinally: spaced inner and ,out-ertransverse; slots therein,

v pivots engaging said slots whereby said knees are "connected to said top for pivotal. and i'limite'di sliding 'movement on said'pivots', a

cross-bar connecting'the"front ends of saidrunnersfa f steering lever pivotally mounted on said cros'sibar and havingpinandslot con nection tolthe front end ofsaid'ftop, andia 40-; steering baifon saidle'ver;v v. mThe combination with a top, of flexible runnersjpairs of knees secured to said runners and each having longitudinally-spaced inner and; outer =itra-nsverse slots therein,

pivots'engagingsaid slots wherebysaidknees are connectedto'said top for pivotal and limited'sliding movement onsaid pivots, and

a steering lever fulcrumed on saidtop and v operatively connected to the forward ends of said runners, Y N w In witness whereof I have hereunto. set my hand. f V:-" ;'u 1 i i; WILLIAM E. "KIDDER.

5 2. The combination of flexi ler rufi f runner-s1 and "each having longitudinally A 

